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Linville, Richards Freitag Named US-Japan Coaches

 

Posted Friday, March 10, 2006

 

Linville, Richards Freitag Named US-Japan Coaches

Coaching duo to lead Team USA July 13-15 in Tochigi, Japan
 

NORMAN, Okla. ?

Robert Linville of Greensboro College and Vanderbilt?s Martha Richards Freitag have been named coaches for the 2006 Fuji Xerox USA vs. Japan Collegiate Golf Championship. The pair will lead team USA in the 31st annual competition, which will be held July 13-15 at Sun Hills Country Club in Japan?s Tochigi prefecture.

 

Linville - who also coached the US-Japan team in 2001- entered his twelfth season heading the Greensboro College golf program in 2005-06. Overall, Linville?s teams have placed in the top seventh at the NCAAs in 10 of his 11 seasons coaching The Pride. Linville led Greensboro College golf to another outstanding year in 2005. The Pride rebounded from a difficult fall season to place third at the NCAA championships. Following the regular season, he earned USA South Conference Coach of the year honors for the third time in his career (he also won in ?00 and ?98). In 2000, Linville led Greensboro College to its first-ever national championship. He was also National Coach-of-the-Year among NCAA Division III coaches as selected by the Golf Coaches Association of America that season.

 

"I?m thrilled to have the opportunity to coach the US-Japan team," said Linville. " This is my second chance to coach a team of college all-stars and it?s a rare to receive the opportunity to represent your country. I?m very honored."

 

In just five years at the helm as Vanderbilt head coach, Richards Freitag has elevated the Commodore program into the national elite. Her 2004 team won the Southeastern Conference championship and placed fifth nationally. She was voted by her colleagues as the SEC Coach of the Year in both 2003 and 2004, only the third time a coach has won the award in consecutive years. Richards Freitag has developed some of the best players in collegiate golf. Three of her Commodore alumni - Sarah Jacobs, Courtney Wood and May Wood - earned All-America honors during their careers before turning professional. Believing in the all-around student-athlete, her golfers have also earned 18 spots on the SEC All Academic team with every member of the 2005 team gaining that recognition.

 

"I?m really excited to have the opportunity to coach this team," said Richard Freitag. "It?s a big honor to be selected to coach a national team. I?m flattered to be able to participate in the US-Japan matches. I look forward to the trip and representing the United States."

 

The Team USA leads all-time series, 23-7, and has won 10-straight championships.